When to challenge the residence permit decisions in court?

Immigration matters can be complicated and quite often the Police and Border Guard decisions can go either way. The decision is made by weighing all the important factors in the case. It is no secret that the tendency in Estonia is to make negative decisions.

It is also no secret that most people do not want to go to court against the Police and that is very understandable. The process can be long and costly as well.

We do see many decisions which are legally very questionable and in Estonia, challenging a Police and Border Guard decision in court can be done without any fear of "retaliation" and the courts have to be and are just (even as the Police have a lot of discretion in their decision making).

There is perhaps a belief that the courts never overturn Police decisions but the reality is different.

There is an option to challenge the Police decisions to the Police themselves as well but there indeed we do not see any positive results.

So in a nutshell - if the decision against you is illegal then do not be afraid to defend your rights in the administrative court!